Updates from VPFO
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We are the VPFO – Event this Wednesday: This Wednesday afternoon we’re gathering as a portfolio to connect as a team and to hear from our new Vice-President Frank Laezza. A calendar invite has been shared with the portfolio – if you can, please join your VPFO colleagues in coming together across all our departments, groups, and services. Learn more
Strategic Plan updates
How do you champion VPFO’s strategic plan?
What we do matters. We each play a role in enabling excellence in teaching, learning and research at UBC. Through sharing about your work and people, you can help other departments gain a better understanding of what you do, how you connect to others in the portfolio, and how your team helps move the strategic plan forward.
Complete our online interview to share your story and get involved.
Operations updates
Facilities
Building Operations, Custodial Services, Customer Services & Informatics, Energy & Water Services, Infrastructure Development, and Municipal Services
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UBC’s Furniture Reuse Program: UBC’s furniture reuse program offers gently-used furniture items at discounted prices to UBC faculties, departments, and the public (including employees wishing to buy furniture to take home). The program accepts donations of good condition furniture from UBC faculties and departments. To purchase, donate, or learn more contact furniture.reuse@ubc.ca.
Finance
Comptroller, Finance & Operational Excellence and Treasury
- Getting ready for UniForum: Support resources for participants available: The UniForum data collection period is from May 29 – June 30. If you are a participant in UniForum, Operational Excellence has created some resources to help you prepare. Learn more
- Reducing cheque issuance delays: A reminder to UBC faculty and staff members to verify the accuracy of supplier addresses with the supplier before submitting any requests for canceling and re-issuing cheque payments. Learn more
- Celebrate our UBC Lean Six Sigma graduates this June 1: Join us at the Performance Theatre in The Nest to celebrate our recent Yellow and Green Belts this Thursday from 11:30 am–12:30 pm. Learn more
Operations & Advising
Communications & Engagement, Human Resources, and Safety & Risk Services
- 2022 Celebrating Communications @ UBC: The celebration gallery showcases incredible communications work carried out during 2022. Congratulations to Yvonne Kwok and Sam Tsui whose campaigns were featured in the innovative category! Access the gallery
- Learn more about the 2022 Staff Pension Plan Annual Report: With the release of the 2022 Staff Pension Plan Annual Report, the Pensions team has a range of ways to learn more. Register for the Wednesday, June 14 webinar or listen to the podcast. Learn more
- Representing UBC at the Future of Security Conference: Campus Security recently presented on its stakeholder engagement work to leading security professionals at The Future of Security Conference last week hosted by the ASIS Canadian Pacific Chapter.
The VPFO consists of individuals doing important work to support the university. Our people bring our strategy to life and make our plans into reality. Read more about the people of the VPFO.
Shout outs
HR
- Shout out to Amelia Libonao for volunteering to marshal at the convocation on May 24. One of our goals is to enable the learning of students and this is a small but great way of supporting UBC and why are here. Great job!
Facilities
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Infrastructure Development recently completed the project to install the large-scale bronze artwork co-created by xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) master carver Kayám̓ Richard Campbell and Haida master carver and hereditary chief James Hart, 7idansuu (Edenshaw). Great work to Kate West, Project Manager, Victor Wong, Project Coordinator and the entire project team.
Safety & Risk Services
- Special thanks to Jonathan Crowell for representing Campus Security at the Drag Queen storytelling event at Acadia Fairview Commons and the Community Bike Jam event on campus. Great job!
- Shout out to Andrew Wong, Theo Saul, Sahibzar Sandhu and Lukasz Kowalski for their outstanding work on departmental projects and events over the last six months. Thank you for your excellent work!
Well done! Want to give someone a shout out in the next edition? Submit your kudos in your local recognition program or email communications@vpfo.ubc.ca
People in motion
In memory of Valeriy Kichenko
It is with great sadness and sense of loss that we inform you of the passing of Valeriy Kichenko. Valeriy was a valued member at UBC for over 13 years.
Valeriy will be remembered for his dedication to the university as our Environmental Services Facility (ESF) Technician, specializing in chemical waste disposal. His dedication and work ethic was particularly evident during COVID-19, where he reported to work every day to ensure researchers and lab managers had hazardous waste disposal support to continue their critical research.
Valeriy will be missed by the Safety & Risk Services team and all the staff and colleagues he’s worked with. Please keep Valeriy’s family in your thoughts as they go through this difficult time.
If you need any support in processing this news, please reach out to our Employee Assistance provider, Lifeworks and contact the LifeWorks Care Access Centre which is available 24 hours, seven days a week, at 1-800-387-4765 or visit ubc.lifeworks.com (Note: UBC as your organization).
Read for more information including Valeriy's memorial service on May 31.
Read more about our people on the VPFO website.
Job openings
All positions at UBC are available on the UBC HR Careers website, or through the career application in your Workday account. Please note that applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on the day prior to the posting end date. The following VPFO positions are currently open:
- Buyer (JR12851) – 05/31/2023
- Continuous Improvement Program Manager-1 (JR12929) – 06/02/2023
- Student Litter Picker-2 (JR12974) – 06/02/2023
- Day - Full-Time Service Worker (JR12991) – 06/02/2023
- Trades 2 - Carpenter (JR13061) – 06/03/2023
- Executive Assistant & Project Coordinator (JR13051) – 06/04/2023
- Assistant Civil Engineer (JR12802) – 06/09/2023
- Manager, Mechanical Utilities (JR12801) – 06/16/2023
- Senior Financial Analyst - Capital (JR12909) – 06/08/2023
- Truck Driver Medium/Labourer (JR12981) – 06/08/2023
- Auxiliary Service Worker (10 Positions) (JR13035) – 06/10/2023
Don't forget to apply as an internal candidate! Please review Apply for an Internal Job Posting in the Workday Knowledge Base for instructions on how to apply. Reminder to attach a copy of your resume when you apply for a career opportunity in Workday.
We are the VPFO: Spotlight
Each week, we'll meet another member of the VPFO as they introduce themselves and their work.
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Dustin Szeto, Safety Advisor - Health & Safety Partnerships | Safety & Risk Services
I work with UBC Campus Security to manage their first aid program and liaise with other safety champions across UBC to help support their safety programs. A reminder that staff can always call 604.822.4444 (or 2.4444 on UBC landline) to contact Campus Security for first aid.
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Notable updates
Three tips for making meetings more accessible for National AccessAbility Week
This year, National AccessAbility Week will take place from May 28 to June 3.
Learn to make meetings more accessible with these three helpful tips from the Centre for Workplace Accessibility.
- Send an agenda ahead of the meeting.
- Enable live captions for virtual meetings.
- Consider the physical environment of your meeting space.
Learn more on the UBC HR website
Attend the Rehearsing Conflict Summer Intensive final performance on June 13
Join this engaging and interactive event presented by UBC's Conflict Theatre — the final performance capstone project for the Rehearsing Conflict Summer Intensive program. This event is open to all UBC faculty and staff and promises to be a unique and thought-provoking experience. The talented troupe made up of faculty and staff will showcase their original plays using the principles of forum theatre and reflexive conflict management. As a member of the audience, you will have the opportunity to engage directly with the performers and participate in shaping the outcomes of the plays.
- Tuesday, June 13 | 2pm – 4pm
- Frederic Wood Theatre (map)
Find out more and register.
Farmers’ markets starting in June
For the 2023 growing season, UBC farm is offering three markets each week, our Tuesday and Saturday markets are located at the UBC Farm, with Wednesday markets taking place in front of the UBC Bookstore.
Learn more
Helpful news
Some interesting news articles our team members have found informative, helpful, or fun! These are provided for information and entertainment only. Unless noted, UBC doesn’t specifically endorse or supply this content.
- Here are 11 stunning ChatGPT powered tools that can make your life easier.
- UBC student Abul Bashar Rahman is preparing for an epic bike ride across Bangladesh to produce a documentary about how those most vulnerable to climate change in the country are experiencing and preparing for its impacts. Read more
